July 4, 2011

Our new friend, Greece

This was all preceded by weeks, even months, of intensive diplomatic activity ranging from work done on the ground in Athens by Israel’s envoy there, Aryeh Mekel, to conversations last week between Netanyahu and his Greek counterpart – a man Netanyahu frequently characterizes publicly as “my friend” – George Papandreou.

And the diplomatic success wasn’t limited to Greece. The diplomatic accomplishments vis-à-vis this flotilla include prodding UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to come out against the flotilla, getting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to voice strong disapproval, having countries such as Britain, France and the Netherlands issue unequivocal travel advisories against taking part, making it difficult for the vessels to get insurance and ensuring that the Turks kept the Mavi Marmara from setting sail again and did not appear – as they did last time – to be giving their sponsorship to the entire farce.

ATHENS – For a whole year, organizers of the second “freedom flotilla” to Gaza have been preparing for the climax: A media-covered confrontation, violent or not, with IDF soldiers at sea. For a long year they were engaged in eliciting millions of Euros for the purchase of vessels, recruitment of a crew, the organization of activists, ties with the media and the setting up of an international operation.

According to the plan, by July they should have been released from Israel, after commandos would have taken over the ships and led to them to the Ashdod Port. Yet in practice, the flotilla is stuck in Athens and it’s unclear when it would be able to set sail.

Every day, more journalists quit, key figures such as parliament members become impatient, and the flotilla becomes less interesting. The delay may prompt a strong desire for a violent confrontation among the hard core of participants, especially in order to regain exposure.

It appears that organizers did not take one thing into account: Greece’s attitude to the flotilla and that dramatic change this year in Israel-Greece ties. Similarly to Turkey, Greece was considered fertile ground for planning and executing the flotilla. The moment Turkey announced that it was withdrawing its support, Greece became the more natural default option. The country was always considered a pro-Arabic state and an enthused supporter of the Palestinians.

Andreas Papandreou, the father of the serving Greek prime minister, was a personal friend of Yasser Arafat. Only in 1992 did the Greeks upgrade their diplomatic ties with Israel and ambassadors were sent to both capitals. However, Greece’s attitude to Israel remained hostile, and just like Ireland and Portugal it was considered one of the most hostile states to Israel in the European Union.

Arabs didn’t help Greece

However, this year Greece’s prime minister decided to reshuffle the deck. The crisis in ties between Israel and Turkey, Greece’s neighbor and rival, created an opportunity. US-born George Papandreou did not only absorb his father’s social doctrine, but other values as well, from his American mother. As president of the Socialist International, he understands that Greece’s global status will be boosted should it apply a more balance Mideastern policy.

Moreover, as Greece just went bankrupt in practice, the country is engaging in self-reflecting at this time. The Greeks realize that the support for the Arabs did no good and that they received nothing in exchange for it. Investments from Arab tycoons never poured in, they did not create jobs, and no Arab state offered loans under better terms than what the Europeans agreed to offer in order to avert disaster.

In the current crisis, Greece is a greater believer in American power and in the influence of American Jewry. Last year, Greece’s prime minister visited in Jerusalem, and PM Netanyahu headed to Greece immediately after that, thereby marking a fundamental change in the ties between the two countries. Mutual visits by ministers led to frequent trips by officials and journalists, strategic ties developed considerably, and hundreds of thousands of Israelis headed for vacations in the Greek islands.

Officials in Jerusalem are now seeing the results of this change. Every day that passes without the flotilla setting sail marks yet another Greek reward for the State of Israel. Thus far, the Greeks did everything in their power to prevent the flotilla from heading out. The general strike last week was utilized to that end, and the last weekend was also stretched in order to prompt another delay.

If last year flotilla organizers managed to surprise Israel and the IDF, this year it was Greece that surprised the organizers. The Greek determination to stop an American vessel, as happened Friday, is unprecedented. The Greeks intend to go as far as they can: Greek officials already expressed doubts whether the flotilla will be setting sail in the coming days.

4 Comments to Our new friend, Greece

Greece will now emulate Israel on the economic front. If Greece turns itself around using the Israeli model, watch other European countries do the same. We are headed for unexpectedly good times as long as simple corruption can be capped.

The situation with Greece has a lot to do with Turkey having essentially turned on Israel. Now Israel has found a substitute friend in Greece, a rival of Turkey, and the Greeks understand that there are concrete benefits in being friends with Israel, such as an improvement in relations with the U.S. Israel has already reaped a dividend in the form of help with the anti-Israel flotilla. So this is a mutually beneficial relationship. Turks, eat your hearts out.

While the thread is not yeat secured regarding the “flotilla”, there should be no question that the Israeli Foreign Service under Mr. Lieberman and Mr. Netanyahu have performed very well on this. The natural gas pipeline has much to do with it. Former General Ya’alon also has made large dents into what used to be Mr. Barak’s sphere of work. Many indicators have popped since Mr. Netanyahu last visit to the WH and Congress.
And as crude oil starts flowing the connections will further solidify with Greece and also with Turkey.
If I forgot to mention the fellow with the birth certificate it is because it is Tuesday or something… OIL and natural GAS trump that certificate.